Members of the Ladies Auxiliary pose outside of the West Side Hebrew Institute for this photograph. The West Side Hebrew Institute was one of the two earliest schools in St. Paul teaching Hebrew to Jewish children. The building was located at the intersection of Fenton and Kentucky Street, and was dedicated in November 1911.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Photograph of members of the Ivria Club standing beneath a pergola at the Como Park Conservatory. Ivria Clubs were social clubs for young people dedicated to promoting Hebrew language and culture. This chapter was sponsored by the Minneapolis Talmud Torah. The idea of binding the "old" that was Hebrew with the "new" that was American--"Ivrit B'Ivrit"-- was introduced by Elijah Arvin. Arvin is on the bottom row, second from the right.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
These young women were Midwest Talmud Torah chapter presidents at the annual convention in Atlantic City, New Jersey. From left to right, Lila Labovitz, Fanny Miller, Sarah Levitman; Beryl Bearman, Sarah Ritzner, and Libby Kramer.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Photograph of young boys and girls in a classroom. Some children are sitting at desks and some are standing at the chalkboard with chalk in hand. The first Talmud Torah building was located on Fremont Avenue North and Eighth Street. The president, Nathan Weisbren, spoke to Thomas Lowry, president of the Minneapolis Street Car Company, and arranged for a charter street car to carry students to class. For even the youngest students at the new school, the first day of class began with the expectation that classes would be conducted in Hebrew. Memorization was supplemented by reading, acting, conversation and playing games.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Photograph of a placard detailing different activities taking place at the Jewish Education Center on Center Day. Center Day showcased the facilities and services at the J. E. C., and allowed the community to observe a cross-section of the activities that took place there.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Young students stand on the steps of the school. The instructors stand in the back right. Temple of Aaron organized it's own Hebrew school in 1916. The multiplicity of Hebrew Schools in St. Paul was a marked difference from the centralized Hebrew instruction in Minneapolis, reflecting the diversity of the St. Paul community and it's lengthier history.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Children lay on individual mats on the floor during rest time in this pre-kindergarten class. The Jewish Educational Center was the precursor to the current St. Paul Jewish Community Center. It was built in 1930 at the corner of Holly and Grotto. Programming combined recreation and education, and by the time this picture was taken, over 100 community groups used the building.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Members of the Sigma Alpha Mu basketball team are posed in uniform. Sigma Alpha Mu was founded in 1909 at City College in New York as a Jewish fraternity. The University of Minnesota had an active chapter.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
A group of members of the Sigma Delta Tau Sorority in caps and gowns. Sigma Delta Tau sorority was founded by seven young women at Cornell University in 1917. The seven had had been denied membership into other Greek organizations because they were Jewish.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
A group of servicemen stand outside the Sigma Delta Tau Sorority house. In the back is a young member of the sorority. The Sigma Delta Tau sorority was founded by seven young women at Cornell University in 1917. The seven had had been denied membership into other Greek organizations because they were Jewish. The Minneapolis chapter hosted Jewish soldiers stationed at Fort Snelling in St. Paul during World War II.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Group arranged outside the front of the Saint Paul Talmud Torah school for the first year preschool graduation at the new George Kaplan Talmud Torah building.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Three boys, wearing caps and capes, hold a microphone on stage, during the commencement ceremony of the nursery school graduation. The St. Paul Talmud Torah was created in 1956 through the merger of several different Jewish education institutions as a beneficiary of the United Jewish Fund and Council. Oversight for Jewish education was centered in the Jewish Education Association, which planned and developed all forms of local Jewish learning, including weekday school and Sunday schools.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Children of the graduating class of the Saint Paul Talmud Torah nursery school, wearing caps and hand-made costume. The St. Paul Talmud Torah was created in 1956 through the merger of several different Jewish education institutions as a beneficiary of the United Jewish Fund and Council. Oversight for Jewish education was centered in the Jewish Education Association, which planned and developed all forms of local Jewish learning, including weekday school and Sunday schools.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Hillel Center at the University of Minnesota provides a central campus location for Jewish students to meet and hold cultural, religious and social events. Hillel was preceded by the Menorah Club, founded in 1920. Hillel met in various locations until the mid-1940s when a permanent home was built on the campus. Hillel sponsored (and still sponsors) Friday evening services, lectures and social events. The building in the picture preceeded the current building.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
This ribbon cutting at the first Hillel House took place in 1944. Hillel House serves Jewish students attending the University of Minnesota. From the turn of the century through the early 1940s, Jewish student organizations did not have a permanent place to meet. Hillel was constructed with support from the national B'nai Brith organization and the Jewish community in the Twin Cities.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Student award winners (left to right): Arnold Lifson, Joseph Brooks Memorial Award; Lorraine Phillips, Hannah Goldblum Prize; Harriet Lifson, Nathan Weisberg Prize.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Dr. George Gordon, founder and driving force behind the Minneapolis Talmud Torah is in the center, front row. Dr. Gordon introduced modern teaching methods, grades, and a rigorous curriculum to Hebrew instruction, and remained administratively independent of any religious congregation. High school classes were the second level of instruction: students graduated after 3 years.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Talmud Torah schools offer primary and advanced education to Jewish students in Hebrew language and scripture; religious practices; and Talmudic commentaries. Talmud Torahs date back to the Renaissance, and were established in the United States in the 1880s.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Group photograph of the Minneapolis Talmud Torah Women's Auxilliary Presidents. While most of the faculty involved in actual teaching at the early Hebrew schools was done by men, women were important to the ongoing success of religious education. The Talmud Torah Women's Auxiliary in Minneapolis was founded in 1911 as a club, and by the mid-1920s had grown to more than 500 members. In addition to raising funds for the school, the Auxiliary was committed to furthering Jewish civic pride and Jewish consciousness in the home.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Three young men pose for a photograph on the steps of North High School. North High School serves the North Side neighborhood in Minneapolis. The high school is located at 1500 James Avenue North.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives